Red Bull Cliff Diving cancels 2020 World Series and focuses on 2021 season

In the light of health concerns and advice from the authorities, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series season has been suspended for 2020. We trust that this decision will be understood and respected by everyone.

All efforts and energy are focused on an outstanding 2021 season, when elite divers as well as young up-and-coming talent will once again wow the crowds with their breathtaking free-falls from up to 27m.

We remain hopeful of staging a standalone event in Australia in appreciation of our loyal fans and to grant the planet's finest divers a chance to showcase their supreme acrobatic skills.

Red Bull Australia are doing everything they can to be prepared to host the event in Sydney, November 2020. The safety of the public, the divers, the crew and all others involved is the number one priority and, along with government advice, will ultimately determine the possibility of doing so closer to the date.

Athletes representing 18 different nations, including reigning champions Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) and Gary Hunt (FRA), will lead the world's oldest extreme sport to new heights in 2021, as the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series returns stronger and ready to inspire fans around the world again.

Hunt and Iffland Rule at Rough Inis Mor

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Reigning champions begin their title defence in impressive style in Ireland

Britain's Gary Hunt and Rhiannan Iffland from Australia made the perfect start to their title defence at the first stop of the 2017 World Series at Inis Mór, with both divers coming from behind to secure a crucial victory at the demanding Serpent's Lair location. Hunt's fellow Brit, Blake Aldridge, took second spot on the podium while America's Andy Jones finished third from the 27m platform. A premiere for the women in this location, Iffland was joined on the podium by Yana Nestsiarava of Belarus and American Ginger Huber in a tied second place in front of a sell-out crowd of 1500 spectators.

In one of the closest competitions, the 60th World Series stop was decided in favour of the 6-time champion Hunt, who celebrated his 29th victory after a rocky start and an eighth place after two rounds. The 33-year-old had the difficulty on his side and played the experience card in a competition where the wind whirled and temperatures struggled to reach 13C.

"When you're up there in these conditions your training kind of goes out of the window, but with years and years of experience you remember to block things out and you just think about the actions you have to go through to perform your dives and not be distracted," explains the 'brilliant Brit'.

Beyond the rocks, Blake Aldridge lifts off from the 27m platform on his way to a second place finish. Photo: Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool.

Only 0.15 points behind him, former Olympian Aldridge made it a successful start to the season in his 40th World Series appearance. Also the fight for the final spot on the podium was razor thin between Jones and Orlando Duque, with the American coming out 0.7points ahead of the legendary Colombian.

Mexico's 'style-master' Jonathan Paredes, who displayed his trademark water-ripping talent to lead until the final dive of the day, missed his new dive – a forward 4 somersaults 1 ½ twists pike – to finish 6th in probably the most challenging of the six stops in 2017.

The men celebrate on the podium after overcoming the fabled Serpent's Lair. Photo: Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool.

In the women's the first ever rookie champion Iffland from Australia showed no nerves to finish 50 points ahead of a joint second place for Belarusian wildcard Yana Nestsiarava and Florida-based Ginger Huber from the 21m platform.

"Definitely it was the most challenging competition yet," said Iffland. Yesterday I was having my doubts with the conditions, but I came here this morning with a different attitude, just to get the job done and do the dives fluid and I think it really helps to go out with that positive attitude. I'm stoked."

Three of the women were unable to finish the competition, with the new format of four instead of three dives per competition adding to the rough and exposed setting diving into the natural sea-pool, where the crashing ocean waves caused their target to sink and swell wildly.

Rhiannan Iffland returned to the position she knows best - top of the podium - with some sensational diving. Photo: Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool.

From the raw Atlantic coast, the World Series travels on to the pure cliffs of the Portuguese Azores in two weeks' time.